By Donna Heiderstadt

You’ve got to love a guy who proudly owns his nickname — especially when that nickname is “Spicy Brycey.” It’s what Bryce Agulto’s friends and co-workers at Reno, Nevada-based ZLINE Kitchen & Bath call him — and he admits it fits. “They call me this because of my fiery energy, personality, and sometimes attitude,” Bryce says. “I am also extremely competitive, which is another factor that leads to the ‘spice.’”

That energy and competitiveness is what fueled Bryce’s professional growth at ZLINE since he was hired at the kitchen and bath supplier four years ago after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Nevada, Reno. When he joined the sales team in 2021, Bryce saw a significant gap in resources available both internally and to external partners. His solution? He established an entirely new branch within the sales team, titled Brand Management, designed to foster growth between ZLINE and its independent retailers.

Naturally, Bryce earned the job title of Brand Manager — “the fact an entirely new role was created to best use my skills, I find very cool and something I am extremely proud of,” he says — and today he and his team manage four Shopify sites, each showcasing over 3,000 SKUs and collectively generating approximately $25 million in annual sales.

In addition to website management, Bryce and his team handle all external communication to over 400 independent retailers nationwide, such as weekly mailers notifying partners about promotions, new products, and general updates. He has also coordinated articles showcasing ZLINE Kitchen and Bath in YourSourceNews, the news site for AVB, a buying group representing nearly 5,000 independent retailers across the U.S. and Canada, who together generate roughly $20 billion in annual sales.

Not bad for a 28-year-old who until he joined ZLINE never even considered a career in the kitchen & bath industry. Now his typical morning starts with a check in with his team to talk about their plan for the day and any new information that needs to be shared with retail partners. “This year at ZLINE we have launched over 1,000 new skus, so there are always plenty of moving parts to stay on top of!” he says.

Away from the office, Bryce is having a blast hanging out with his Golden Retriever puppy, Nash, and pursuing his two main hobbies: golf and travel. While a recent visit to Amsterdam cemented his love for the city, he already has his eye on an ultimate bucket-list trip: a golf vacation in Japan. “I think I would really enjoy the food and culture,” he says. “Throwing golf in at one of Japan’s extremely nice courses would be the icing on the cake!”